Fernando Alonso was in an optimistic mood in Melbourne today, and the Spanish ace says that Ferrari is well prepared for the start of the season – and he’s fully motivated.

“It’s a good challenge this year with all the changes in the regulations and all the possibilities we have in this new championship,” said Alonso. “I’m motivated and I’m ready, and optimistic as well. Every new season you think you can do well, and this year is no different.

New McLaren racing director Eric Boullier says that the team still has to find performance – but he’s confident that the new car has a lot of potential to be tapped.

“Our winter test preparations have been largely trouble-free,” said the Frenchman. “Our aim with MP4-29 was to deliver a solid and reliable platform, which we can develop throughout the season. In terms of full performance, we’re not there yet, but there’s more to come, not least because there’s a hunger and belief that’s evident throughout the entire McLaren organization.

Kimi Raikkonen was keen not to make any predictions about Ferrari’s 2014 form today, but the Finn did let slip that he sees a podium finish as a realistic target in Melbourne.

“First of all I think we need to make sure we finish the races,” he said. “And if we do that we’re already in a good position. We want to improve in all the areas, and we have to first see where we are.

The Detroit round of Monster Energy Supercross from Ford Field will air on FOX Sports 1 on Saturday, March 15 11:30pm ET. FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2 will both re-air the night’s Main Events on Sunday at 2pm ET and 9pm ET. (Photo: Supercrossonline.com)

When Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, returns to Detroit’s Ford Field for the first time since 2008 this Saturday night, three-time defending 450SX Class champion Ryan Villopoto will bring a 28-point lead into the Motor City. Rookie Adam Cianciarulo has a seven-point lead in the Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship as it heads into the fifth stop of the season.

PROGRAM CHANGE ALERT
**FOX Sports 1 will air the Detroit race on delay at 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT**
**Coverage from Detroit will also be available on the authenticated FOX Sports GO app**
**FOX Sports 1 will re-air the Detroit race Sunday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m. ET
**FOX Sports 2 will re-air the Detroit race Sunday, March 16 at 9:00 p.m. ET**

En route to his third victory of the season, Villopoto led all 20 laps at the Daytona Motor Speedway, marking his 37th-career 450SX Class win. Red Bull KTM’s Ken Roczen earned his sixth podium finish of the season with a second place and his teammate Ryan Dungey also earned his sixth podium of the season with a third place.